Face the Consequences
The only thing standing in their way was the knowledge that from the very beginning. They all understood that the young ones were forbidden from playing at Rock Hill for many reasons. They couldn't shake the anxiety about how their parents would react to the news. In their minds, it seemed like the worst possible outcome. If only they had opted to stay closer to home and heeded their parents' warnings, perhaps Thyron would be safe and sound at home after a long day of playing.
"I'm really scared. Our parents are going to be furious with us, but I can't help feeling sorry for Thyron," Coral exclaimed, tears streaming down her small face.
Theena began to tear up alongside her friend, soon to follow was Penelope. She sniffled out a few tears at the loss. The brothers felt terrible; it had been their foolish idea to play the game to begin with. Mires and Faden exchanged somber glances, to one another, both filling the weight of guilt upon their shoulders.
"We can't just keep crying here. We need to leave this place before something bad happens," Mires said.
Theena cast him a bitter glance. "It's too late; something terrible has already occurred. I can only hope he's still alive," she said weeping for Thyron.
Mires lowered his head and nudged his brother's arm with his hand, signaling him to follow. Together, the two of them left Rock Hill and headed back home, the girls trailed not far behind the two lion cubs. The group walked slowly, searching for an adult up ahead, who could guide them. They were anxious about the repercussions of disobeying their parents, knowing they would face a stern punishment. However, it wouldn't be as severe as what Thyron was enduring right now. They kept that in mind as it encouraged them, to do what was right.
Missing
Thyron sank onto the frigid stone below him, shaking uncontrollably. His teeth clacked together, and the cold tears he shed only served to amplify the biting chill surrounding him. Up above, he heard his sister's voice echoing his name, calling out to him. Thyron gazed up at the opening above and stood upright, directing his attention towards it. He shouted out her name as loud as he could, but it was futile; the slide had plunged him deep into the earth underneath the surface.
He frantically brainstormed ways to make his escape. "Maybe I can gradually climb back out the way I entered in from," he muttered to himself.
It was worth a shot. He felt optimistic that it might succeed. Thyron navigated the loose stones, searching for the end of the slide in the darkness. With limited visibility, he could hardly tell if he was grabbing the tail of a dragon. Yet, amidst the obscurity, he realized he had found the slide itself. Initially, Thyron attempted to walk straight up but ended up tumbling back down, almost knocking himself out in the process. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he decided to slow down on his second try, perhaps he had gone too fast. Changing his strategy, he began to sidestep his way up the slide slowly. So far, his efforts had been successful, up until his hoof struck a slick patch on the stone slide, causing him to tumble back down. Frustration washed over him, but Thyron was resolute in his determination not to give up. He longed for his freedom and for his parents to arrive soon. He tried once more to ascend, this time getting on his hands and knees, he crawled slowly and steadily upwards. However, just as before, he encountered the very same slippery area and found himself sliding back down, this time onto his belly. He landed at the bottom and remained there, weeping inconsolably as he called out for his family to rescue him.
"Mother, father, Theena. I beg you, Creator, someone—anyone—help me get out of this horrible place," Thyron pleaded desperately with no hope on the horizon.
His heart ached, his body was in pain, and his mind was filled with trepidation. What was even more discouraging was that he could hear their voices echoing down to him, yet they remained oblivious to his overall presence. He listened to their discussions; it was all he could do at the moment. Feeling hopeful that they had set out to seek help. That was exactly what he would require. Now, it was a matter of waiting. How he despised games, he mused. Especially hide and seek. This game had truly lived up to its title. It would take the entire kingdom to find him now.
"How can they possibly get me out if I can't even climb this slippery slope up by myself?" he asked aloud.
Unbeknownst to Thyron, as he cried out in sadness, he had not realized the noise had attracted the attention of a creature lurking in the depths of the underground jungle hidden in the shadows. The creature's eyes snapped open, shining like brilliant electric blue lights. He gazed at Thyron sitting in the stream of light. As the creature stirred, its body creaked and cracked with its limbs shifting. Its tail, long and menacing, swayed with an air of danger behind it. Thyron's crying gradually quieted, his sobs turned to soft sniffles. exhausted he rolled over onto his back, inhaling the chilly air around him.
Tap, tap, tap, tap'
He started to hear an unusual sound coming from the darkness behind him.
'Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, !!'
The noise was intensifying. Something shifted within the shadows. Thyron hurriedly sprang to his feet, panic coursing through him as his eyes swept frantically around the surrounding area. Where could he go? What action could he take? He felt utterly vulnerable and defenseless. His heart raced faster, and his head throbbed with fear. At least the cold no longer bothered him—his adrenaline had heated his blood. He waited in silence; his body was frigidly tense. Thyron was watching for the creature to step into the beams of light. The surrounding inky blackness made everything invisible, save for two glowing blue eyes with vertical slits at their centers. The glow was growing larger and creeping closer as he watched frozen in place.
"What could it be? A dragon? A spider? A beetle?" he thought.
A myriad of possibilities raced through his mind as the creature stepped into the light, revealing its true form at last.
Face the Consequences
The young hybrids had made their way to the outside walls of the kingdom. As they approached near the entrance, they each stopped, looking hesitantly before entering in. Purk was inside laughing and enjoying his conversation with Zarda. Theena saw her father, she broke free from the group, rushing over to her him as quick as her little legs could take her. He had, luckily, been standing near, at the wishing well. Theena broke into a faster sprint as she drew closer. The other young hybrids chased after her towards King Purk.
"Father!" Theena called out. "Father, help us!" she shouted.
Purk turned his head towards her tiny cries. Zarda too followed his lead. They could clearly hear and see something was wrong.
"Help, Father!" she shouted again as she hurried toward him.
Purk and Zarda both were terrified by the concern on her face. King Purk had never seen his daughter in such distress before. Purk didn't hesitate to hurry to her side, kneeling down to embrace Theena. He wrapped his powerful arms around her delicate figure while she cried against his chest. His heart pounded, and his mind swirled with a flurry of potential outcomes.
"What's the matter, Theena? Are you okay? Please tell me why you are crying. My little princess, what's wrong?" Purk calmly asked. She couldn't find the words to respond; fear and sadness overwhelmed her too much.
Purk was beside himself; his worry was turning quickly into panic. As a new father, he felt out of his depth when it came to handling the emotions of tiny female piglet—this was a responsibility that usually fell to his queen Hazel. At the moment she wasn't present. He desperately needed her assistance. Zarda recognized the pressing need for Purk's bride. He searched the courtyard for the Queen, hoping to find her soon.
"Stay here friend, I'll go look for Hazel," Zarda said, sprinting toward the inner village.
The little ones had finally reached Theena and came to an abrupt stop by Purk's side. He scrutinized their faces, keen for an explanation. The same expression of distress that Theena wore mirrored in them. He turned to the children, prepared to ask what had happened, noticing the tear-stained cheeks and the yellow pee stain on Penelope's beautiful dress. "Why do they all look so troubled?" he pondered. A sense of unease washed over him, and then it hit him—his son was missing from the group. Putting the pieces together, his fear began to swell. He hesitated but knew he had to ask them where his son was; he needed to know.
"Where is Thyron?" He asked sternly.
Heads hung low as tears poured from their small eyes. Theena wept even more fiercely upon hearing his name. Purk suddenly understood that a terrible fate had befallen his son—his only son.
He gently urged Theena to turn and face him. "Theena, I need you to tell me where Thyron is. Where's your brother?" he inquired. Just as he finished questioning his daughter, Queen Hazel arrived. Along with Torlia, Zarda, Saharrah, and Natia all rushing up from behind her.
Queen Hazel collapsed to her knees beside her daughter. With great tenderness, she cradled Theena's body, drawing her into her embrace. Hazel was trembling with anticipated fear.
"What's wrong Theena? Please, tell me my love." Hazel said. However, there was no answer; her daughter stayed silent, her only reply was the sound of her sobbing. Hazel looked up at Purk, alarmed.
Penelope could see Theena's parents' desperate plea for answers. She took a deep breath and found her courage to explain to them both everything that happened.
"We... we were playing hide and seek. Everyone decided to hide in Rock Hill. Mires was the one searching, while the rest of us, including Thyron, found our hiding spots. When the game ended, Mires told us he had followed our footprints. The first set he tracked led him to a dead end, but he lost sight of Thyron's tracks, which disappeared into a small hole at the base of the rocks. He peered inside, but Thyron was nowhere to be found. There were no signs of a struggle, no blood—just emptiness, sand, and footprints." Penelope's voice quivered with sorrow.
His heart thumped wildly in his chest. Purk rose to his feet, overcome with grief, crying and shouting out loud in anger.
"No!!! This can't be happening. Not to my son." screamed Purk.
Hazel clutched Theena more tightly, rooted in shock. She remained soundless, as if all the breath had been drawn from her lungs. Her vision blurred as tears welled up, obscuring everything around her. Zarda reached out to his friend but was met with rejection. Purk sought no solace. He understood; Zarda knew he would have reacted the same way. Hearing Purks screams, it wasn't long before a sizable crowd had assembled. Among them were Penelope's parents, who rushed over in concern.
"Penelope, are you alright?" Queen Ajanta inquired. Penelope turned and rushed into her mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Mosiya walked over to King Zarda. looking him deep into his eyes. "You know what we must do." said Mosiya.
Zarda nodded his head yes. He knew it was time to set up a rescue team for Thyron.